Bottle decapping and pouring mechanism for vending machines



arch 16, 1948. G. H. HANSEN, JR 2,438,050

BOTTLE DECAPPING AND POURING MECHANISM FOR VENDING MACHINES Filed May 29, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEY.

March K6, 1948. e. H. HANSEN, JR

BOTTLE DECAPPING AND POURING MECHANISM FOR VENDING MACHINES Filed May 29, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 ENT OR.

'arch 16, 1948. N E JR 2,438,050

BOTTLE DECAPPING AND POURING MECHANISM FOR VENDING MACHINES Filed May 29, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Z 7% z I;

Fatented Mar. 16, 1948 waist BOTTLE DECAPPING AND POURING MECHA- NISM FOR VENDING MACHINES George H. Hansen, Jr., Kansas City, Mo., assignor to 0. Earl Hovey, trustee, Kansas City, Mo.

Application May 29, 1944, Serial No. 537,956

6 Claims. 1

ihis invention relates to vending machines for the contents of bottled goods, and has for a primary object the provision of mechanism in such equipment, for moving a bottle from a portion of a chamber to another portion thereof, and for decapping and pouring the contents from the transported bottle as the same is shifted.

One of the more important objects of this invention is the provision of bottle handling apparatus designed for use in vending machines, as disclosed in U. S. Letters Patent No. 2,333,118 issued November 2, .5343, which apparatus contributes to the efficiency, accuracy of operation, and compactness of the machine embodying the invention covered by said patent.

A. yet further object of this invention is to provide a vending machine for bottled goods, having a decapper mechanism for moving a capped bottle from a storage space to the decapper, and thereafter tipping the bottle to a position where the contents thereof is emptied and subsequently depositing the decapped and emptied bottle into a chamber designed for the reception thereof.

This invention has for another aim to provide mechanism of the aforementioned character that is positive in its action; occupies a minimum amount of space; grips and holds the bottle without danger of displacement from a. position where its cap be removed and the contents poured therefrom; and has its main bottle-carrying clamp attached to a support which moves in a rectilinear, reciprocating path.

Other objects of the invention will appear during the course of the following specification, referring to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. l is a fragmentary side elevational view of a vending machine for bottled goods, made in accordance with the present invention and having parts thereof broken away for clearness.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on line 11-11 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 3 the vending machine with portions of solid walls omitted to reveal the manner of periodically interconnecting certain parts of the vending machine mechanism.

a is a horizontal cross sectional view taken on line IV-IV of Fig. 1 and looking in the direction or" the arrows.

5 is an enlarged detailed fragmentary sec tional view through a portion of the coupler, shown in Fig. 3; and

Fig. 6 is an enlarger. top plan View of the bottle clamp illustrating in section, the reciprocating is a rear elevational fragmentary view of supports to which the clamp is pivotally secured.

One form of a bottle vending machine with which the improvements, about to be described in detail, may be associated, is disclosed in the aforesaid Letters Patent No. 2,333,118 andreference to said patent will readily teach the manner in which the capped bottle of a vending machine, is automatically moved through a series of steps upon the operation of the machine said steps include removal of the capped bottle from a chamber; carrying said bottle into operative relation with a decapper; emptying the contentsof the decapped bottle into a suitable receptacle; and thereafter depositing the emptied bottle into a chamber within the case of the vending machine.

In the aforesaid patent, the mechanism for. gripping and transporting the bottle through the sequence of steps just set down, is adequate but capable of improvement because the form of clamp for the bottle tends to shift the same laterally where the mouth and cap sometimes become maladjusted as regards the decapper and cap detecting switch. Also, the transporting mechanism for the bottle travels through a serpentine path to bodily move the bottle and clamp from one side to another as one end of its path of travel is approached. The improve motivating means for the bottle, about to be described, ob V panying drawings, and therefore, the manner of embodying this invention in the patented vendin" machine, will become apparent to those skilled in the art.

In the drawings, the numeral ID designates the case wherein the mechanism is housed and that is provided with a bottle chamber l2 for the storage of bottles I5 having conventional crown caps l6 thereon. These bottles are arranged in a series of horizontal shelves and between partitions I8 extending laterally from endless chains 29, all interconnected for periodic movement by a master sprocket chain 22 disposed near wall 24 adjacent to, yet spaced from one end of cabinet l0.

Sprocket chain 22 is equipped with a number of pins 26 projecting outwardly into the path of travel of a lifter 28 attached to a reciprocating bar Sll. On the opposite side from that of lifter 28, is carried a dog 32 periodically engageable by -a lug 34 mounted on one of the hereinafter de- 3 scribed bottle lifting chains, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 3.

A pair of opposed endless chains 36 and 38 respectively, are in mesh with like sprockets 40, positioned as illustrated in Fig. 1, to present a straight stretch in the two oppositely arranged sprocket chains 36 and 38 and between which straight stretches of the chains the bottle clamp is mounted.

During the operation of the equipment, motor 42 receiving current from lines 44 through connectors 46 and reversing switch 48 motivates chains 36 and 38 to carry a relatively long supporting link 50 toward and from the upper sprockets 40. There is a link 50 in each straight stretch of endless chains 38 and 38, and this stretch of the endless chains lies in a channel 52, as seen in Fig. 4. There is a channel for each chain 35 and 38 and the same serve as guides to insure that links 50 will travel in a rectilinear path which is a straight, vertical movement devoid of any lateral travel.

The bottle clamp per se comprises a cradle 54 having an inner, arcuate face upon which the bottles I4 may rest when the same are dropped thereonto from chamber I2. Cradle 54 has opposed trunnions 56 extending laterally through links 50. These trunnions project outwardly from bosses 58 about which is wound a portion of the legs of a V-shaped spring 68. The bight of this spring 68 underlies the free end of cradle 54 opposite from that end from which trunnions 56 project. The portions of the legs of spring 6!] beyond the coiled parts thereof, depend, as illustrated in dotted lines of Fig. 1, to apoint where their ends are anchored against link 58.

An arm 62 rigidly secured to the inner side of cradle 54, has a lateral roller or friction element 64 for engagement with cam faces 66, 68 and ID of abutment I2 mounted on wall 24.

Cradle 54 extends rearwardly in the form of a bifurcated portion I4 to receive a roller I6 mounted on pintle I8. This pintle I8 is journalled in bifurcated portion I4 and extends laterally therebeyond, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 6, to receive one end of coil springs 88, the other ends whereof are attached to fingers 82 shaped as shown in Fig. 1 and pivotally mounted to the sides of cradle 54 as at 84. These fingers 82 are each L-shaped and have pins 86 at their elbows to strike angled faces 88 of the two spaced apart abutments 90, disposed near the upper end of the straight stretch in the sprocket chains and near the end of the path of travel of the clamp, of which fingers 82 and pins 86 are a part. The lower end of each finger 82 has a roller 92 which rests upon surface 94 of a platform 95. This platform 96 is disposed near the other end of the path of travel of the clamp.

Pressure members 98 on the free end of each finger 82, are pivotally mounted by a connecting rod I88, which serves as an axle for the pressure members. These said members 98 are of resilient material and rotatably mounted on rod I08 and the annular peripheries thereof are inclined as illustrated in Fig. 6. In other words, the pressure members 98 are frusto-conical with their smaller diameters in opposed relation, to the end that a cylindrical bottle is gripped, as illustrated in Fig. 1. A cam I82 mounted on case ID in the path of travel of roller I8, serves to tip bottle I4 as later described.

Motor 42 is placed into motion when the operator of the vending machine drops a coin, or otherwise manually manipulates the parts to .in the operation, sprocket chain 22 will be motlvated through the lifter 28 and dog 32 for advancing bottles I4 one step, where a bottle will always rest in the cradle 54 of the clamp when it is in the normal position at the point of beginning (Fig. 1).

Fingers 82 are held out of the gripping position by virtue of roller 92 resting upon face 94 of platform 98. This pressure extends springs and draws pressure members 98 upwardly and to the right as Viewed in Fig. 1. Thus, bottle I4 may drop into cradle 54 and remain there until the machine is started.

As cradle 54 is raised, trunnions 55 carried in supporting links 58, will allow cradle 54 to move about their aligned axes. As link 58 starts upwardly. roller 16 will engage cam I92, whereupon bottle I4 will be tilted upwardly about the centers of trunnions 55 where cap I8 is engaged by the decapper, generally designated by the numeral I84. This decapper is pivotally mounted and as supporting link 50 continues its upward travel, cap I6 will be withdrawn. Obviously, as cradle 54 leaves platform 96 roller 92 on fingers 82 will be lifted to allow springs 80 to pull pressure members 98 down against the side of the bottle near the end within cradle 54. The movement of these fingers is parallel to the longitudinal axis of bottle I4 and due to their pivotal mounting 84, no lateral displacement or rolling of the bottle can occur. This structure, including pressure members 98, fingers 82 and springs 80 will rigidly hold bottle I4 as cap I6 is withdrawn therefrom. The position in the path of travel where the cap is being withdrawn from the bottle is shown in dotted lines of Fig. 1.

Continuing upward movement of link 59 will carry bottle I4 to the position shown in dash lines of Fig. 1, where the contents of bottle I4 is poured into a receptacle I06. This tipping action on the part of the bottle I4 is initiated and accomplished by face 66 on abutment I2. Roller 64 on arm 82 is brought into engagement with faces 68 and 68 immediately after cap I6 is withdrawn.

As support link 50 continues upwardly, roller 64 travels over vertical face I8 and the longitudinal axis of bottle I4 again rests in a horizontal plane as the emptied bottle enters between jaws I88 which support the bottle after pressure members 98 and fingers 82 are withdrawn from their gripping position by pins 98 engaging the inclined faces 88 on abutments 90. The position of the pressure members 98 and the associated fingers 82, are shown in dot-and-dash lines in Fig. 1, and bottle I4 likewise illustrated, is above jaws I08.

A the empty bottles are fed upwardly between these jaws I08, they are forced along a chute I I0 into another part of the chamber within vending machine case I9, in the same manner as disclosed in the aforesaid Letters Patent.

Switch II2, operable by cap I6 of bottle I4, and switches H4 and H6 form no part of the invention hereinafter claimed.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a vending machine for bottled goods, having a bottle chamber and a decapper, mechanism for moving a bottle from one part of the chamber into operative engagement with the decapper and to another part of the chamber comprising a bottle clamp; a movable support for the clamp; and parts for tipping the clamp and its contained bottle as the support is moved through its path of travel, said clamp comprising a cradle, and a finger having a pair of pressure members on the free end thereof for engagement with a bottle contained in the cradle on each side of the medial longitudinal plane thereof, said pressure members being swingably mounted on the cradle for movement toward and from the bottle in a plane parallel to the longitudinal axis of the bottle, said cradle and said pressure members each having means for yieldably clamping the bottle therebetween.

2. In a vending machine for bottled goods, having a bottle chamber and a decapper, mechanism for moving a bottle from one part of the chamber into operative engagement with the decapper and to another part of the chamber comprising a bottle clamp; a movable support for the clamp; and parts for tipping the clamp and its contained bottle as the support is moved through its path of travel, said clamp comprising a cradle, a pair of fingers pivotally carried by the cradle, a pressure roller on the end of each finger, and springs for yieldably holding the fingers in a position where the pressure rollers are in engagement with a bottle contained in the cradle, said fingers being so mounted and formed as to swing the pressure rollers in planes parallel to and on each side respectively or" the longitudinal axis of the bottle whereby lateral displacement or rolling in the cradle during the movement of the fingers toward the bottle is prevented.

3. In a vending machine for bottled goods, having a bottle chamber and a decapper, mechanism for moving a bottle from one part of the chamber into operative engagement with the decapper and to another part of the chamber, comprising a bottle supporting cradle; mechanism for moving said cradle along a rectilinear path of travel, including a pair of reciprocable, spaced-apart, endless chains, each having a length thereof confined in a channel to guide the same along a straight line of travel; a supporting link for the cradle fixed in said length of each chain, said cradle being disposed between said lengths and pivotally mounted to said links for swinging movement in transverse relation to the path of travel or" said chains; parts for tipping the cradle and its contained bottle as the cradle is moved through its path of travel; and a finger swingably mounted on the cradle for movement toward and from a bottle contained in the cradle in a plane parallel to the longitudinal axis of the bottle, said cradle and said finger each having means for yieldably clamping the bottle therebetween.

4. In a vending machine for bottled goods, having a bottle chamber and a decapper, mechanism for moving a bottle from one part of the chamber into operative engagement with the decapper and to another part of the chamber, comprising a bottle supporting cradle; mechanism for moving said cradle along a rectilinear path of travel, including a pair of reciprocable, spaced-apart, endless chains, each having a length thereof confined in a channel to guide the same along a straight line of travel; a supporting link for the cradle fixed in said length of each chain, said cradle being disposed between said lengths and pivotally mounted to said links for swinging movement in transverse relation to the path of travel of said chains; parts for tipping the cradle and its contained bottle as the cradle is moved through its path of travel; and a finger swingably mounted on the cradle having a pair of -ressure members on the free end thereof for engagement with a bottle contained in the cradle on each side of the medial longitudinal plane thereof, said cradle and said finger each having means for yieldably clamping the bottle therebetween.

5. In a vending machine for bottled goods, having a bottle chamber and a decapper, mechanism for moving a bottle from one part of the chamber into operative engagement with the decapper and to another part of the chamber, comprising a bottle supporting cradle; means for moving said cradle along a rectilinear path of travel, including a pair of opposed chains having a straight stretch therein, and sprockets operably meshing with the endless chains to establish said straight stretches thereof; supporting means for pivotally mounting the cradle to the chains between the straight stretches thereof; parts for tipping said cradle as it moves along its rectilinear path of travel; a pair of fingers pivotally carried by the cradle; a pressure roller on the end of each finger; and springs for yieldably holding the pressure rollers in engagement with a bottle contained in the cradle, said fingers being disposed to swing the rollers in planes parallel to and on each side respectively of the longitudinal axis of said cradle.

6. In a vending machine for bottled goods, having a bottle chamber and a decapper, mechanism for moving a bottle from one part of the chamber into operative engagement with the decapper and to another part of the chamber, comprising a bottle clamp; a reciprocable, endless chain for moving said clamp along a straight line of travel, said clamp being swingably mounted on said chain; and means for ti ing said cradle as it moves in a straight line comprising an arm fixed to said cradle to one side of said chain and having a roller on the free end thereof, and an abutment having a plurality of cam faces disposed in the straight path of travel of said clamp for engaging the roller to tip the clamp and its contained bottle as the same is moved by said endless chain.

GEORGE H. HANSEN, JR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,004,427 Hillyer Sept. 26, 1911 2,333,118 Olsen Nov. 2, 1943 

